Something to think about

Since we can’t know what knowledge will be most needed in the future, it is senseless to try to teach it in advance. Instead, we should try to turn out people who love learning so much and learn so well that they will be able to learn whatever needs to be learned.
- John Holt

When we first started homeschooling, one of the goals we had for the boys was to create a lifelong love of learning. Our goal has never changed, but somehow over the years we have forgotten about it and instead just focused on checking things of an arbitrary list of what happens to be the current educational trend.

Now, the question is... what do I do now? How do I get away from the list and make learning exciting? I am not naive enough to think learning has to be fun and exciting all of the time, but damn it, there are kids I am talking about. My kids. Why can't learning be fun and exciting? Why can't they spend their time learning what they want to, and not what their crazy, stressed out, checklist loving mom thinks they need to?

I have asked them what they want to study. Christian says "nothing," Ethan stares at me in disbelief, and Alex says the same thing he always says when I ask "About stars and planets. You know, outer space stuff." We just finished studying "outer space stuff" but I guess that wasn't enough. He needs more. But "outer space stuff" is checked off of my list, so we must move on...

So far, Christian is interested in two careers, neither of which would require college. Do I push him and make him go, because we want for him what we didn't have? Marty's goal for them is to not have to work as hard as he does and have a job they love. My goal for them is to make enough money to support their families while doing what they love. If that means collecting garbage or working as a restaurant manager (God help them) then so be it.

Well, if you are still here after my incoherent ramblings, any advice is welcomed. In fact, if you could see me you would see that I am on my knees begging for advice.